Preface
Downloaded by 99.195.117.15 on March 1, 2018 | https://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 29, 1998 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1998-0707.pr001
Nitrogen
is the fourth most abundant element i n the b i o - and geosphere. T h e most significant sources o f nitrogen i n the biosphere are i n N - c o n t a i n i n g b i o molecules such as proteins, amino sugars, nucleic acids, and pigments, for example c h o l o r o p h y l l s ; the importance o f these molecules i n lifecycles is selfevident. M o s t o f these nitrogen compounds are biodegraded or m i n e r a l i z e d upon the death o f an organism, but a minute amount is retained i n the geosphere. M u c h is k n o w n about the c h e m i c a l transformations undergone b y carbon, h y drogen, and o x y g e n during diagenesis, but the fate o f nitrogen is less clearly u n derstood. T h e past few years have seen a substantial increase i n research o n the fate o f nitrogen i n both b i o l o g i c a l and geological cycles. H o w e v e r , the m a i n emphasis o f this research has been o n the nitrogen c y c l e , focusing o n C / N ratios and simple nitrogen forms such as ammonia, nitrate, and nitrogen oxide, rather than o n (bio)macromolecular forms. N i t r o g e n preserved i n the geosphere c a n sometimes be related to b i o l o g i c a l macromolecular precursors, for example, proteins, amino sugars, and nucleic acids. A l t h o u g h there have been studies o n protein moieties i n many disciplines o f the life sciences, research into the geochemistry o f proteins has been rather scattered. A n o t h e r important class o f biomacromolecules i n this context is the amino sugars and i n particular chitin, w h i c h is often cross-linked w i t h proteins i n a n i m a l tissues. A l t h o u g h chitin has been studied extensively i n the past 20 years, mostly because it has significant c o m m e r c i a l application, the geochemical processes leading to the degradation and transformation o f this macromolecule during diagenesis are not w e l l k n o w n . W i t h respect to the preservation o f n u cleic acids i n ancient materials, this is still a l i v e l y and controversial topic w i t h the m a i n problems relating to the amplification o f D N A . A p a r t from the fact that nitrogen-containing biomacromolecules m a y be incorporated into so-called geopolymers, substantial amounts o f the organic nitrogen present i n the soils and sediments occur as 'unidentified' forms. Despite the importance o f these forms o f nitrogen, the o r i g i n and exact molecular c o m p o s i t i o n o f the unidentified structural moieties, w h i c h are believed to be p r i m a r i l y macromolecular and c h e m i c a l l y c o m p l e x , are still p o o r l y understood.
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Stankiewicz and van Bergen; Nitrogen-Containing Macromolecules in the Bio- and Geosphere ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1998.
Downloaded by 99.195.117.15 on March 1, 2018 | https://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 29, 1998 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1998-0707.pr001
T h e s y m p o s i u m , upon w h i c h this b o o k is based, was organized to provide a f o r u m for scientists studying N - c o n t a i n i n g macromolecules. It was the first opportunity to r e v i e w the current state-of-the-art research i n this field and subsequently c o m p i l e a v o l u m e that draws upon research from a w i d e range o f d i s c i plines a l l o f w h i c h focus o n (bio)macromolecular nitrogen. In general, the b o o k addresses the k e y questions pertaining to the stability o f N - c o n t a i n i n g b i o m a c romolecules, and the transformations that they undergo upon diagenesis, and provides the most recent ideas on the fate o f these molecules i n the b i o - and geosphere. It presents the latest research trends and advances on the fate o f proteins and/or amino acids i n the natural environment w h i c h is especially i m portant as amino acids contribute to the plant and animal necromass i n a l l sedimentary systems. T h i s b o o k also provides the reader w i t h comprehensive overv i e w s i n c l u d i n g the distribution, biodegradation, and fate o f the amino sugar, chitin, i n the b i o - and geosphere. T h e extensive o v e r v i e w o n D N A research presented here, sheds new light o n the problems i n v o l v i n g amplification o f D N A i n ancient samples and shows the recent advances i n this field. F i n a l l y , the v o l u m e gives an extensive summary o f the fate o f so-called 'unidentified' organic nitrogen i n soils and sedimentary rocks. T h i s b o o k also includes several invited o v e r v i e w chapters written b y experts i n their respective fields. T h e focus o f this v o l u m e o n the macromolecular forms and the b i o g e o c h e m i c a l processes is unique such that the theme has never been published before i n such a comprehensive form. T h e papers collated here cover a w i d e range o f topics and are o f interest to soil scientists, geochemists, biochemists, geologists, biologists, and archaeologists. Acknowledgments T h i s v o l u m e and the s y m p o s i u m , on w h i c h this book is based, are the result o f great support, advise, and help o f many individuals and organizations. W e thank the A C S D i v i s i o n o f Geochemistry, Inc., that sponsored the s y m p o s i u m and its chairmen George Luther III and K e n A n d e r s o n for advise and help. W e extend our gratitude to a l l speakers w h o presented their w o r k during the sympos i u m as w e l l as to a l l contributors to this book. W e especially thank a l l the referees w h o donated their precious time to r e v i e w the papers, thus ensuring the highest scientific standard possible. A c k n o w l e d g m e n t is made to the D o n o r s o f T h e Petroleum Research F u n d , administered b y the A C S , for partial support ( A C S - P R F 3 2 4 7 2 - S E ) o f this s y m p o s i u m , to w h i c h ensured several foreign speakers were able to attend the meeting. B . A r t u r S t a n k i e w i c z and P i r n F . van B e r g e n were supported by N E R C grants, G S T / 0 2 / 1 0 2 7 to D e r e k E . G . B r i g g s and R i c h a r d P . Evershed, and G R 3 / 9 5 7 8 to R i c h a r d P . Evershed respectively w h i l e editing this v o l u m e , and w h i l e they were e m p l o y e d by U n i v e r s i t y o f
Stankiewicz and van Bergen; Nitrogen-Containing Macromolecules in the Bio- and Geosphere ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1998.
B r i s t o l , U n i t e d K i n g d o m . B . A r t u r Stankiewicz is especially grateful for a l l the support and friendship o f Derek E . G . B r i g g s w h i l e i n B r i s t o l .
B. ARTUR STANKIEWICZ Shell E&P Technology Co. 3737 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX 77025
PIM F. VAN BERGEN Downloaded by 99.195.117.15 on March 1, 2018 | https://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 29, 1998 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1998-0707.pr001
Organic Geochemistry Group Faculty of Earth Sciences Utrecht University P.O. Box 80021 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
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